Speaking publicly he calls Indigenous peoples from Canada’s north Inuit. Their preferred term. But he has to fly around to ask if the team name is racist? It boggles the mind.

The stories covering this trip north, and other discussions around the team name, never refer to northern Indigenous peoples as “e***mos” either. Nor does other coverage of Inuk or Inuit communities. The irony is obviously lost on all journalists working in Edmonton newsrooms and for those at national sports outlets.

I don’t get why this seems so difficult.

What a glorious message would be send to our country if @EdmontonEsks changed their name. It would set a new precedent of respect.

This is a decision that shouldn’t yet have to be made. It says something about Edmonton’s whiteness that there isn’t enough leadership at the team, or on its board of directors or from its “community ownership” to hear the request that has been made again. And again. And again.

Much like the rest of the season will prove what kind of team is on the field, we’re going to see a real test of Edmonton community leaders between now and the Grey Cup playoffs. This has to be the last season with the old name.